[2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate for use in lymphangioleiomyomatosis and other diseases

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to the use of the compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate in a method of treatment or prophylaxis of vascular and respiratory disease, fibrotic disease and neurodegenerative disease, particularly interstitial pneumonia, tuberous sclerosis or lymphangioleiomyomatosis, collagen disease, interstitial lung disease, human kidney disease, nephritic syndrome, liver fibrosis or liver cirrhosis, Alzheimer&#39;s disease or Parkinson&#39;s disease.

The present invention is directed to the use of [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate as a therapeutic agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The identification of a therapeutic compound effective for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a disease can be based on the activity of the compound in a biological assay. A biological assay that mimics a disease causative mechanism can be used to test the therapeutic activity of a candidate compound.

The causative mechanism of many diseases is the overactivity of a biological pathway. A compound that can reduce the activity of the biological pathway can be effective in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of the disease caused by the overactivity of the biological pathway. Similarly the causative mechanism of many diseases is the overproduction of a biological molecule. A compound that can reduce the production of the biological molecule or block the activity of the overproduced biological molecule can be effective in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of the disease caused by the overproduction of the biological molecule.

Conversely, the causative mechanism of many diseases is the underactivity of a biological pathway. A compound that can increase the activity of the biological pathway can be effective in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of the disease caused by the underactivity of the biological pathway. Also similarly the causative mechanism of many diseases is the under production of a biological molecule. A compound that can increase the production of the biological molecule or mimic the biological activity of the under produced biological molecule can be effective in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of the disease caused by the under production of the biological molecule.

It is the object of the present invention to provide compounds for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

The object of the present invention is solved by the subject-matter of the independent claims. Further advantageous features, aspects and details of the invention are evident from the dependent claims, the description, and the examples of the present application.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention, [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate for use in a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a disease selected from the group comprising a vascular and respiratory disease, a fibrotic disease and a neurodegenerative disease is provided.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, said vascular or respiratory disease is selected from the group comprising usual interstitial pneumonia, tuberous sclerosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, said fibrotic disease is selected from the group comprising collagen disease, interstitial lung disease, human kidney disease, nephritic syndrome, liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, said neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group comprising Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

In certain embodiments of the first aspect of the invention, [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate is formulated for intravenous administration or oral administration or inhalation.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a combination medicament comprising [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate and N,N-dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide for use in a method of treatment and/or prophylaxis of a disease selected from the group comprising a vascular and respiratory disease, a fibrotic disease and a neurodegenerative disease is provided.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, said vascular or respiratory disease is selected from the group comprising usual interstitial pneumonia, tuberous sclerosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, said fibrotic disease is selected from the group comprising collagen disease, interstitial lung disease, human kidney disease, nephritic syndrome, liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis.

In certain embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, said neurodegenerative disease is selected from the group comprising Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease.

In certain embodiments according to the second aspect of the invention, said combination medicament is formulated for intravenous administration or oral administration or inhalation.

According to a third aspect of the invention, a method of treatment is provided comprising administration of [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate to a patient suffering from a disease selected from the group comprising a vascular and respiratory disease, a fibrotic disease and a neurodegenerative disease.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, a method of treatment is provided comprising administration of a combination medicament comprising [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate and N,N-dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide to a patient suffering from a disease selected from the group comprising a vascular and respiratory disease, a fibrotic disease and a neurodegenerative disease.

Vascular Disease

Vascular diseases are often the result of decreased perfusion in the vascular system or physical or biochemical injury to the blood vessel.

Peripheral vascular disease (PVD) is defined as a disease of blood vessels often encountered as narrowing of the vessels of the limbs. There are two main types of these disorders, functional disease which doesn't involve defects in the blood vessels but rather arises from stimuli such as cold, stress, or smoking, and organic disease which arises from structural defects in the vasculature such as atherosclerotic lesions, local inflammation, or traumatic injury. This can lead to occlusion of the vessel, aberrant blood flow, and ultimately to tissue ischemia.

Peripheral vascular disease is also manifested in atherosclerotic stenosis of the renal artery, which can lead to renal ischemia and kidney dysfunction.

As used herein, the term “peripheral vascular diseases” comprises any peripheral vascular disease including peripheral and autonomic neuropathies. Examples of “peripheral vascular disease” include peripheral arterial disease, such as chronic arterial occlusion including arteriosclerosis, arteriosclerosis obliterans and thromboangiitis obliterans (Buerger's disease), macroangiopathy, microangiopathy, diabetes mellitus, thrombophlebitis, phlebemphraxis, Raynaud's disease, Raynaud's syndrome, CREST syndrome, health hazard due to vibration, Sudeck's syndrome, intermittent claudication, cold sense in extremities, abnormal sensation in extremities, sensitivity to the cold, Meniere's disease, Meniere's syndrome, numbness, lack of sensation, anesthesia, resting pain, causalgia (burning pain), disturbance of peripheral circulation function, disturbance of nerve function, disturbance of motor function, motor paralysis, diabetic peripheral circulation disorder, lumbar spinal canal stenosis, diabetic neuropathy, shock, autoimmune disease such as erythematosis, rheumatoid disease and rheumatoid arthritis, autonomic neuropathy, diabetic autonomic neuropathy, autonomic imbalance, orthostatic hypotension, erectile dysfunction, female sexual dysfunction, retrograde ejaculation, cystopathy, neurogenic bladder, defective vaginal lubrication, exercise intolerance, cardiac denervation, heat intolerance, gustatory sweating, diabetic complication, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia unawareness, hypoglycemia unresponsiveness; glaucoma, neovascular glaucoma, cataract, retinopathy, diabetic retinopathy, diabetic maculopathy, occlusion of retinal artery, obstruction of central artery of retina, occlusion of retinal vein, macular edema, aged macular degeneration, aged disciform macular degeneration, cystoid macular edema, palpebral edema, retinal edema, chorioretinopathy, neovascular maculopathy, uveitis, iritis, retinal vasculitis, endophthalmitis, panophthalmitis, metastatic ophthalmia, choroiditis, retinal pigment epithelitis, conjunctivitis, cyclitis, scleritis, episcleritis, optic neuritis, retrobulbar optic neuritis, keratitis, blepharitis, exudative retinal detachment, corneal ulcer, conjunctival ulcer, chronic nummular keratitis, Thygeson keratitis, progressive Mooren' s ulcer, damage of skin, skin ulcer including foot ulcer, diabetic ulcer, burn ulcer, lower leg ulcer, postoperative ulcer, traumatic ulcer, ulcer after herpes zoster, radiation ulcer, drug induced ulcer, frostbite (cold injury) , chilblain, gangrene and sudden gangrene, angina pectoris/variant angiitis, coronary arteriosclerosis (chronic ischemic heart disease, asymptomatic ischemic heart disease, arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease), myocardial infarction, heart failure, congestive heart failure and painless ischemic heart disease, pulmonary edema, hypertension, pulmonary hypertension; portal hypertension, diabetic nephropathy, decubitus, renal failure.

The compound of the present invention was tested using the assays described in Examples 1 and 2 for its effect as active therapeutic agents in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of vascular diseases and disorders.

Fibrotic Disease

Fibrosis or fibrosis associated disorder affects the liver, epidermis, endodermis, muscle, tendon, cartilage, heart, pancreas, lung, uterus, nervous system, testis, ovary, adrenal gland, artery, vein, colon, small intestine, biliary tract, or stomach.

Fibrosis is generally characterized by the pathological or excessive accumulation of collagenous connective tissue. Fibrotic diseases and disorders include, but are not limited to, collagen disease, interstitial lung disease, human fibrotic lung disease (e.g., obliterative bronchiolitis, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis from a known etiology, tumor stroma in lung disease, systemic sclerosis affecting the lungs, Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, coal workers pneumoconiosis, asbestosis, silicosis, chronic pulmonary hypertension, AIDS associated pulmonary hypertension, sarcoidosis, and the like), fibrotic vascular disease, tubulointerstitial and glomerular fibrosis, myocardial fibrosis, arterial sclerosis, atherosclerosis, varicose veins, coronary infarcts, cerebral infarcts, myocardial fibrosis, musculoskeletal fibrosis, post-surgical adhesions, human kidney disease (e.g., nephritic syndrome, Alport's syndrome, HIV associated nephropathy, polycystic kidney disease, Fabry's disease, diabetic nephropathy, chronic glomerulonephritis, nephritis associated with systemic lupus, and the like), cutis keloid formation, progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS), primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC), liver fibrosis, liver cirrhosis, renal fibrosis, pulmonary fibrosis, cystic fibrosis, chronic graft versus host disease, scleroderma (local and systemic), Grave's opthalmopathy, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, Peyronie's disease, penis fibrosis, urethrostenosis after a test using a cystoscope, inner accretion after surgery, scarring, myelofibrosis, idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis, peritoneal fibrosis from a known etiology, drug induced ergotism, fibrosis incident to benign or malignant cancer, fibrosis incident to microbial infection (e.g., viral, bacterial, parasitic, fungal, etc.), Alzheimer's disease, fibrosis incident to inflammatory bowel disease (including stricture formation in Crohn's disease and microscopic colitis), fibrosis induced by chemical or environmental insult (e.g., cancer chemotherapy, pesticides, radiation (e. g. cancer radiotherapy), and the like), and the like.

Diseases associated with fibrosis include lupus, graft versus host disease, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, scleroderma-like disorders, sine scleroderma, calcinosis, Raynaud's esophageal dysfunction, sclerodactyly, telangiectasiae, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, collagen vascular disease, asthma, pulmonary arterial hypertension, glomerulonephritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, fibrosis following myocardial infarction, central nervous system fibrosis following a stroke or neuro-degenerative diseases (e.g. Alzheimer's disease), proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) and arthritis, silicosis, asbestos induced pulmonary fibrosis, acute lung injury and acute respiratory distress syndrome (including bacterial pneumonia induced, trauma induced, viral pneumonia induced, tuberculosis, ventilator induced, non-pulmonary sepsis induced, and aspiration induced).

Increased Number of Activated Myofibroblasts in Fibrotic Diseases

The emergence and disappearance of the myofibroblast appears to correlate with the initiation of active fibrosis and its resolution, respectively. In addition, the myofibroblast has many phenotypic features, which embody much of the pathological alterations in fibrotic tissue, e.g. lung tissue. These features would seem to argue for an important role for the myofibroblast in the pathogenesis of fibrosis, e.g. lung fibrosis. Furthermore, the persistence of the myofibroblast may herald progressive disease, and, conversely, its disappearance may be an indicator of resolution. This in turn suggests that future therapeutic strategies targeting the myofibroblast would be productive.

Patients usually exhibit evidence of active fibrosis with increased numbers of activated fibroblasts, many of which have the phenotypic characteristics of myofibroblasts. At these sites, increased amounts of extracellular matrix deposition are evident with effacement of the normal alveolar architecture. Animal model studies show the myofibroblast to be the primary source of type I collagen gene expression in active fibrotic sites. In vitro studies show differentiation of these cells from fibroblasts under the influence of certain cytokines but indicate their susceptibility to nitric oxide mediated apoptosis. In addition to promoting myofibroblast differentiation, transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) provides protection against apoptosis. Thus, this well-known fibrogenic cytokine is important both for the emergence of the myofibroblast and its survival against apoptotic stimuli. This is consistent with the critical importance of this cytokine in diverse models of fibrosis in various tissues. In view of these properties, the persistence or prolonged survival of the myofibroblast may be the key to understanding why certain forms of lung injury may result in progressive disease, terminating in end stage disease.

Although pulmonary fibrosis has diverse etiologies, there is a common feature characteristic of this process, namely, the abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix that effaces the normal lung tissue architecture. A key cellular source of this matrix is the mesenchymal cell population that occupies much of the fibrotic lesion during the active period of fibrosis. This population is heterogeneous with respect to a number of key phenotypes. One of these phenotypes is the myofibroblast, which is commonly identified by its expression in-smooth muscle actin and by features that are intermediate between the bona fide smooth muscle cell and the fibroblast. The de novo appearance of myofibroblasts at sites of wound healing and tissue repair/fibrosis is associated with the period of active fibrosis and is considered to be involved in wound contraction. Furthermore, the localization of myofibroblasts at sites undergoing active extracellular matrix deposition suggests an important role for these cells in the genesis of the fibrotic lesion.

Increased TGF-β1 Family Levels in Fibrotic Diseases

The transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) family of proteins has the most potent stimulatory effect on extracellular matrix deposition of any cytokines so far examined. In animal models of pulmonary fibrosis enhanced TGF-β1 gene expression is temporally and spatially related to increased collagen gene expression and protein deposition. TGF-β1 antibodies reduce collagen deposition in murine bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis and human fibrotic lung tissue shows enhanced TGF-β1 gene and protein expression. Several lines of evidence suggest that TGF-β1 is a central regulator of pulmonary fibrosis. Several animal models over expressing TGF-β1 showed extensive progressive fibrosis but limited inflammation, indicating that TGF-β1 may play a predominant role in the progression of pulmonary fibrosis. Therapeutic efforts are therefore focusing on inhibition of TGF-β1 activity, for instance by anti-TGF-β1-antibodies, or modulators of TGF-β1 such as pirfenidone. Pirfenidone inhibits TGF-β1 gene expression in vivo resulting in inhibition of TGF-β1-mediated collagen synthesis and appears to slow progression of IPF in patients. Other novel, promising antifibrotic agents include relaxin (inhibits TGF-β1-mediated overexpression of collagen and increases collagenases), suramin (inhibits growth factors), prostaglandin E2 (inhibits collagen production) and lovastatin (blocks formation of granulation tissue by induction of fibroblast apoptosis).

Diseases involving the lung associated with increased levels of TGF-β include chronic lung disease of prematurity, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, rapid progressive pulmonary fibrosis, giant-cell interstitial pneumonia, acute rejection after lung transplantation, cytomegalovirus pneumonitis after lung transplantation, bronchiolitis obliterans, asbestosis, coal worker's pneumoconiosis, silicosis, histiocytosis, sarcoidosis, eosinophilic granuloma, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, lymphangioleiomyomatosis, central fibrosis in pulmonary adenocarcinoma, cystic fibrosis, chronic obstructive lung disease, and asthma.

Increased TNF-α Levels in Fibrotic Diseases

An important role of tumor necrosis factor—Ipha (TNF-α) in interstitial fibrosis has been established using transgenic mice, which either overexpress or display a deficiency of this cytokine. Mice transgenically modified to overexpress TNF-α develop lung fibrosis. In contrast, mice null for TNF-α show marked resistance to bleomycin induced fibrosis. TNF-α can stimulate fibroblast replication and collagen synthesis in vitro, and pulmonary TNF-α gene expression rises after administration of bleomycin in mice. Soluble TNF-α receptors reduce lung fibrosis in murine models and pulmonary overexpression of TNF-α in transgenic mice is characterized by lung fibrosis. In patients with CFA or asbestosis, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid-derived macrophages release increased amounts of TNF-α compared with controls.

Increased TNF-α may induce fibrosis or fibrosis-associated conditions affecting any tissue including, for example, fibrosis of an internal organ, a cutaneous or dermal fibrosing disorder, and fibrotic conditions of the eye. Fibrosis of internal organs (e.g., liver, lung, kidney, heart blood vessels, gastrointestinal tract) occurs in disorders such as pulmonary fibrosis, idiopathic fibrosis, autoimmune fibrosis, myelofibrosis, liver cirrhosis, veno-occlusive disease, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis, crescentic glomerulonephritis, diabetic nephropathy, renal interstitial fibrosis, renal fibrosis in subjects receiving cyclosporin, allograft rejection, HTV associated nephropathy. Other fibrosis-associated disorders include systemic sclerosis, eosinophilia-myalgia syndrome, and fibrosis-associated CNS disorders such as intraocular fibrosis. Dermal fibrosing disorders include, for example, scleroderma, morphea, keloids, hypertrophic scars, familial cutaneous collagenoma, and connective tissue nevi of the collagen type. Fibrotic conditions of the eye include conditions such as diabetic retinopathy, post-surgical scarring (for example, after glaucoma filtering surgery and after crossed-eyes (strabismus) surgery), and proliferative vitreoretinopathy. Additional fibrotic conditions that may be treated by the methods of the present invention may result, for example, from rheumatoid arthritis, diseases associated with prolonged joint pain and deteriorated joints; progressive systemic sclerosis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, eosinophilic fascitis, morphea, Raynaud's syndrome, and nasal polyposis.

Increased Matrix Metalloproteases Levels in Fibrotic Diseases

The abnormal extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling observed in the lungs of patients with interstitial pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is due, at least in part, to an imbalance between matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs). Normal lung fibroblasts do not make MMP-9 in vitro, whereas fibroblasts from IPF lungs strongly express MMP-9. In addition, fibroblasts from patients with IPF express increased levels of all TIMPs. In this setting, TIMPs may play a role in apoptosis in some cell populations. In vitro studies of alveolar macrophages obtained from untreated patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis showed marked increase in MMP-9 secretion compared to macrophages collected from healthy individuals. In animals models of bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis MMPs have been shown to be elevated in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. Indeed, a synthetic inhibitor of MMP, Batimastat, has been shown to significantly reduce bleomycin-induced lung fibrosis, again pointing to the importance of MMPs in the development of this fibrotic disease in the lung. A number of studies have shown that the actions of MMPs can result in the release of growth factors and cytokines. These profibrotic factors require proteolytic processing for their activation or release from extracellular matrix or carrier proteins before they can exert their activity. In fact, the proteolytic activity processing of several key factors involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary fibrosis such as insulin-like growth factor (IGF), TGF-β₁ and TNF-α occur through the actions of MMPs, thereby activating or releasing them from inhibitory protein-protein interactions. For example, IGFs in vivo are sequestered by six high affinity IGF binding proteins (IGFBPs1-6), preventing their ability to interact with IGF receptors. Studies examining adults and children IPF and interstitial lung disease show that beside IPF, IGFBP-3 and IFPB-2 levels are increased in IPF BAL fluid. MMPs have recently been shown to regulate the cleavage of IGF binding proteins, thereby liberating the complexed ligand to affect IGF actions in target cells. Observations have also shown that the gelatinases, MMP-9 and MMP-2 may be involved in proteolytic activation of latent TGF-β complexes. Furthermore, the MMP inhibitor Batimastat reduces MMP-9 activity in BAL fluid, which was associated with decreased amount of TGF-β and TNF-α.

Pulmonary fibrosis can be an all too common consequence of an acute inflammatory response of the lung to a host of inciting events. Chronic lung injury due to fibrotic changes can result from an identifiable inflammatory event or an insidious, unknown event. The inflammatory process can include infiltration of various inflammatory cell types, such as neutrophils and macrophages, the secretion of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines and the secretion of matrix remodeling proteinases.

Increased CCL18 Levels in Fibrotic Diseases

It has been shown that the expression and regulation of cysteine-cysteine (CC) chemokine ligand 18 (CCL18), a marker of alternative activation, by human alveolar macrophages (AMs) was increased in patients with pulmonary fibrosis and correlated negatively with pulmonary function test parameters. Thus, CCL18 is an ideal diagnostic marker for pulmonary fibrosis.

Neurodegenerative Disease

The present invention also relates generally to the fields of neurology and to methods of protecting the cells of a mammalian central nervous system from damage or injury.

Injuries or trauma of various kinds to the central nervous system (CNS) or the peripheral nervous system (PNS) can produce profound and long-lasting neurological and/or psychiatric symptoms and disorders. One form that this can take is the progressive death of neurons or other cells of the central nervous system (CNS), i.e., neurodegeneration or neuronal degeneration.

Neuronal degeneration as a result of, for example; Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, cerebral-vascular accidents (CVAs)/stroke, traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injuries, degeneration of the optic nerve, e.g., ischemic optic neuropathy or retinal degeneration and other central nervous system disorders is an enormous medical and public health problem by virtue of both its high incidence and the frequency of long-term sequelae. Animal studies and clinical trials have shown that amino acid transmitters (especially glutamate), oxidative stress and inflammatory reactions contribute strongly to cell death in these conditions. Upon injury or upon ischemic insult, damaged neurons release massive amounts of the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is excitotoxic to the surrounding neurons. Glutamate is a negatively charged amino acid that is an excitatory synaptic transmitter in the mammalian nervous system. Although the concentration of glutamate can reach the millimolar range in nerve terminals its extracellular concentration is maintained at a low level to prevent neurotoxicity. It has been noted that glutamate can be toxic to neurons if presented at a high concentration. The term “excitotoxicity” has been used to describe the cytotoxic effect that glutamate (and other such excitatory amino acids) can have on neurons when applied at high dosages.

Patients with injury or damage of any kind to the central (CNS) or peripheral (PNS) nervous system including the retina may benefit from neuroprotective methods. This nervous system injury may take the form of an abrupt insult or an acute injury to the nervous system as in, for example, acute neurodegenerative disorders including, but not limited to; acute injury, hypoxia-ischemia or the combination thereof resulting in neuronal cell death or compromise. Acute injury includes, but is not limited to, traumatic brain injury (TBI) including, closed, blunt or penetrating brain trauma, focal brain trauma, diffuse brain damage, spinal cord injury, intracranial or intravertebral lesions (including, but not limited to, contusion, penetration, shear, compression or laceration lesions of the spinal cord or whiplash shaken infant syndrome).

In addition, deprivation of oxygen or blood supply in general can cause acute injury as in hypoxia and/or ischemia including, but not limited to, cerebrovascular insufficiency, cerebral ischemia or cerebral infarction (including cerebral ischemia or infarctions originating from embolic occlusion and thrombosis, retinal ischemia (diabetic or otherwise), glaucoma, retinal degeneration, multiple sclerosis, toxic and ischemic optic neuropathy, reperfusion following acute ischemia, perinatal hypoxic-ischemic injury, cardiac arrest or intracranial hemorrhage of any type (including, but not limited to, epidural, subdural, subarachnoid or intracerebral hemorrhage).

Trauma or injury to tissues of the nervous system may also take the form of more chronic and progressive neurodegenerative disorders, such as those associated with progressive neuronal cell death or compromise over a period of time including, but not limited to, Alzheimer's disease, Pick's disease, diffuse Lewy body disease, progressive supranuclear palsy (Steel-Richardson syndrome), multisystem degeneration (Shy-Drager syndrome), chronic epileptic conditions associated with neurodegeneration, motor neuron diseases (amyotrophic lateral sclerosis), multiple sclerosis, degenerative ataxias, cortical basal degeneration, ALS, ALS-Parkinson's-dementia complex of Guam, subacute sclerosing panencephalitis, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, synucleinopathies (including multiple system atrophy), primary progressive aphasia, striatonigral degeneration, Machado-Joseph disease or spinocerebellar ataxia type 3 and olivopontocerebellar degenerations, bulbar and pseudobulbar palsy, spinal and spinobulbar muscular atrophy (Kennedys disease), primary lateral sclerosis, familial spastic paraplegia, Werdnig-Hoffmann disease, Kugelberg-Welander disease, Tay-Sach's disease, Sandhoff disease, familial spastic disease, Wohlfart-Kugelberg-Welander disease, spastic paraparesis, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy, familial dysautonomia (Riley-Day syndrome) or prion diseases (including, but not limited to Creutzfeld-Jakob disease, Gerstmann-Strussler-Scheinker disease, Kuru disease or fatal familial insomnia).

In addition, trauma and progressive injury to the nervous system can take place in various psychiatric disorders, including but not limited to, progressive, deteriorating forms of bipolar disorder or schizoaffective disorder or schizophrenia, impulse control disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), behavioral changes in temporal lobe epilepsy and personality disorders.

In one preferred embodiment the compounds of the invention would be used to provide neuroprotection in disorders involving trauma and progressive injury to the nervous system in various psychiatric disorders. These disorders would be selected from the group consisting of; schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, impulse control disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and personality disorders.

In addition, trauma and injury make take the form of disorders associated with overt and extensive memory loss including, but not limited to, neurodegenerative disorders associated with age-related dementia, vascular dementia, diffuse white matter disease (Binswanger's disease), dementia of endocrine or metabolic origin, dementia of head trauma and diffuse brain damage, dementia pugilistica or frontal lobe dementia, including but not limited to Pick's Disease.

Other disorders associated with neuronal injury include, but are not limited to, disorders associated with chemical, toxic, infectious and radiation injury of the nervous system including the retina, injury during fetal development, prematurity at time of birth, anoxic-ischemia, injury from hepatic, glycemic, uremic, electrolyte and endocrine origin, injury of psychiatric origin (including, but not limited to, psychopathology, depression or anxiety), injury from peripheral diseases and plexopathies (including plexus palsies) or injury from neuropathy (including neuropathy selected from multifocal, sensory, motor, sensory-motor, autonomic, sensory-autonomic or demyelinating neuropathies (including, but not limited to Guillain-Barre syndrome or chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy) or those neuropathies originating from infections, inflammation, immune disorders, drug abuse, pharmacological treatments, toxins, trauma (including, but not limited to compression, crush, laceration or segmentation traumas), metabolic disorders (including, but not limited to, endocrine or paraneoplastic), Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (including, but not limited to, type 1a, 1b, 2, 4a or 1-X linked), Friedreich's ataxia, metachromatic leukodystrophy, Refsum's disease, adrenomyeloneuropathy, ataxia-telangiectasia, Djerine-Sottas (including, but not limited to, types A or B), Lambert-Eaton syndrome or disorders of the cranial nerves).

The term “neuroprotection” as used herein shall mean; inhibiting, preventing, ameliorating or reducing the severity of the dysfunction, degeneration or death of nerve cells, axons or their supporting cells in the central or peripheral nervous system of a mammal, including a human. This includes the treatment or prophylaxis of a neurodegenerative disease; protection against excitotoxicity or ameliorating the cytotoxic effect of a compound (for example, a excitatory amino acid such as glutamate; a toxin; or a prophylactic or therapeutic compound that exerts an immediate or delayed cytotoxic side effect including but not limited to the immediate or delayed induction of apoptosis) in a patient in need thereof.

The term “a patient in need of treatment with a neuroprotective drug ” as used herein will refer to any patient who currently has or may develop any of the above syndromes or disorders, or any disorder in which the patient's present clinical condition or prognosis could benefit from providing neuroprotection to prevent the development, extension, worsening or increased resistance to treatment of any neurological or psychiatric disorder.

The term “treating” or “treatment” as used herein, refers to any indicia of success in the prevention or amelioration of an injury, pathology or condition, including any objective or subjective parameter such as abatement; remission; diminishing of symptoms or making the injury, pathology, or condition more tolerable to the patient; slowing in the rate of degeneration or decline; making the final point of degeneration less debilitating; or improving a subject's physical or mental well-being. The treatment or amelioration of symptoms can be based on objective or subjective parameters; including the results of a physical examination, neurological examination, and/or psychiatric evaluations.

In some embodiments this invention provides methods of neuroprotection. In certain embodiments, these methods comprise administering a therapeutically effective amount of a compound of the invention to a patient who has not yet developed overt, clinical signs or symptoms of injury or damage to the cells of the nervous system but who may be in a high risk group for the development of neuronal damage because of injury or trauma to the nervous system or because of some known predisposition either biochemical or genetic or the finding of a verified biomarker of one or more of these disorders.

Thus, in some embodiments, the methods and compositions of the present invention are directed toward neuroprotection in a subject who is at risk of developing neuronal damage but who has not yet developed clinical evidence. This patient may simply be at “greater risk” as determined by the recognition of any factor in a subject's, or their families, medical history, physical exam or testing that is indicative of a greater than average risk for developing neuronal damage. Therefore, this determination that a patient may be at a “greater risk” by any available means can be used to determine whether the patient should be treated with the methods of the present invention.

Accordingly, in an exemplary embodiment, subjects who may benefit from treatment by the methods and compounds of this invention can be identified using accepted screening methods to determine risk factors for neuronal damage. These screening methods include, for example, conventional work-ups to determine risk factors including but not limited to: for example, head trauma, either closed or penetrating, CNS infections, bacterial or viral, cerebrovascular disease including but not limited to stroke, brain tumors, brain edema, cysticercosis, porphyria, metabolic encephalopathy, drug withdrawal including but not limited to sedative-hypnotic or alcohol withdrawal, abnormal perinatal history including anoxia at birth or birth injury of any kind, cerebral palsy, learning disabilities, hyperactivity, history of febrile convulsions as a child, history of status epilepticus, family history of epilepsy or any seizure related disorder, inflammatory disease of the brain including lupis, drug intoxication either direct or by placental transfer, including but not limited to cocaine poisoning, parental consanguinity, and treatment with medications that are toxic to the nervous system including psychotropic medications.

The determination of which patients may benefit from treatment with an neuroprotective drug in patients who have no clinical signs or symptoms may be based on a variety of “surrogate markers” or “biomarkers”.

As used herein, the terms “surrogate marker” and “biomarker” are used interchangeably and refer to any anatomical, biochemical, structural, electrical, genetic or chemical indicator or marker that can be reliably correlated with the present existence or future development of neuronal damage. In some instances, brain-imaging techniques, such as computer tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or positron emission tomography (PET), can be used to determine whether a subject is at risk for neuronal damage. Suitable biomarkers for the methods of this invention include, but are not limited to: the determination by MRI, CT or other imaging techniques, of sclerosis, atrophy or volume loss in the hippocampus or overt mesial temporal sclerosis (MTS) or similar relevant anatomical pathology; the detection in the patient's blood, serum or tissues of a molecular species such as a protein or other biochemical biomarker, e.g., elevated levels of ciliary neurotrophic factor (CNTF) or elevated serum levels of a neuronal degradation product; or other evidence from surrogate markers or biomarkers that the patient is in need of treatment with a neuroprotective drug.

It is expected that many more such biomarkers utilizing a wide variety of detection techniques will be developed in the future. It is intended that any such marker or indicator of the existence or possible future development of neuronal damage, as the latter term is used herein, may be used in the methods of this invention for determining the need for treatment with the compounds and methods of this invention.

A determination that a subject has, or may be at risk for developing, neuronal damage would also include, for example, a medical evaluation that includes a thorough history, a physical examination, and a series of relevant bloods tests. It can also include an electroencephalogram (EEG), CT, MRI or PET scan. A determination of an increased risk of developing neuronal damage or injury may also be made by means of genetic testing, including gene expression profiling or proteomic techniques. For psychiatric disorders that may be stabilized or improved by a neuroprotective drug, e.g., bipolar disorder, schizoaffective disorder, schizophrenia, impulse control disorders, etc. the above tests may also include a present state exam and a detailed history of the course of the patients symptoms such as mood disorder symptoms and psychotic symptoms over time and in relation to other treatments the patient may have received over time, e.g., a life chart. These and other specialized and routine methods allow the clinician to select patients in need of therapy using the methods and formulations of this invention. In some embodiments of the present invention the compound suitable for use in the practice of this invention will be administered either singly or concomitantly with at least one or more other compounds or therapeutic agents, e.g., with other neuroprotective drugs or antiepileptic drugs, anticonvulsant drugs. In these embodiments, the present invention provides methods to treat or prevent neuronal injury in a patient. The method includes the step of; administering to a patient in need of treatment, an effective amount of the compound disclosed herein in combination with an effective amount of one or more other compounds or therapeutic agents that have the ability to provide neuroprotection or to treat or prevent seizures or epileptogenesis or the ability to augment the neuroprotective effects of the compounds of the invention.

As used herein the term “combination administration” of a compound, therapeutic agent or known drug with a compound of the present invention means administration of the drug and the one or more compounds at such time that both the known drug and the compound will have a therapeutic effect. In some cases this therapeutic effect will be synergistic. Such concomitant administration can involve concurrent (i.e. at the same time), prior, or subsequent administration of the drug with respect to the administration of a compound of the present invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have no difficulty determining the appropriate timing, sequence and dosages of administration for particular drugs and compounds of the present invention.

The said one or more other compounds or therapeutic agents may be selected from compounds that have one or more of the following properties: antioxidant activity; NMDA receptor antagonist activity, augmentation of endogenous GABA inhibition; NO synthase inhibitor activity; iron binding ability, e.g., an iron chelator; calcium binding ability, e.g., a Ca (II) chelator; zinc binding ability, e.g., a Zn (II) chelator; the ability to effectively block sodium or calcium ion channels, or to open potassium or chloride ion channels in the CNS of a patient.

Pharmaceutical Compositions

An aspect of the present invention relates to the use of the compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate (also known as Nitazoxanide) as an active ingredient, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluents for the manufacture of a pharmaceutical composition for the treatment and/or prophylaxis of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

Such pharmaceutical compositions comprise the the compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate as an active ingredient, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient, binders, disintegrates, glidents, diluents, lubricants, coloring agents, sweetening agents, flavoring agents, preservatives or the like. The pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention can be prepared in a conventional solid or liquid carrier or diluents and a conventional pharmaceutically-made adjuvant at suitable dosage level in a known way.

Preferably the compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate is suitable for oral administration, suitable for administration by inhalation, or suitable for intravenous administration.

Administration forms include, for example, solutions for inhalation, powders and deposits, pills, tablets, film tablets, coated tablets, capsules, liposomal formulations, micro- and nano-formulations. Furthermore, the present invention also includes pharmaceutical preparations for inhaled preparation to the lungs, parenteral application, including dermal, intradermal, intragastral, intracutan, intravasal, intravenous, intramuscular, intraperitoneal, intranasal, intravaginal, intrabuccal, percutan, rectal, subcutaneous, sublingual, topical, or transdermal application, which preparations in addition to typical vehicles and/or diluents contain the compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate according to the present invention.

The compound of the invention can also be administered in form of its pharmaceutically active salts. Suitable pharmaceutically active salts comprise acid addition salts and alkali or earth alkali salts. For instance, sodium, potassium, lithium, magnesium or calcium salts can be obtained.

The compound of the invention forms pharmaceutically acceptable salts with organic and inorganic acids. Examples of suitable acids for such acid addition salt formation are hydrochloric acid, hydrobromic acid, sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid, acetic acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, malonic acid, salicylic acid, p-aminosalicylic acid, malic acid, fumaric acid, succinic acid, ascorbic acid, maleic acid, sulfonic acid, phosphonic acid, perchloric acid, nitric acid, formic acid, propionic acid, gluconic acid, lactic acid, tartaric acid, hydroxymaleic acid, pyruvic acid, phenylacetic acid, benzoic acid, p-aminobenzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, methanesulfonic acid, ethanesulfonic acid, nitrous acid, hydroxyethanesulfonic acid, ethylenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid, naphthylsulfonic acid, sulfanilic acid, camphersulfonic acid, china acid, mandelic acid, o-methylmandelic acid, hydrogen-benzenesulfonic acid, picric acid, adipic acid, D-o-tolyltartaric acid, tartronic acid, -toluic acid, (o, m, p)-toluic acid, naphthylamine sulfonic acid, and other mineral or carboxylic acids well known to those skilled in the art. The salts are prepared by contacting the free base form with a sufficient amount of the desired acid to produce a salt in the conventional manner.

The pharmaceutical compositions according to the present invention will typically be administered together with suitable carrier materials selected with respect to the intended form of administration, i.e. for oral administration in the form of tablets, capsules (either solid filled, semi-solid filled or liquid filled), powders for constitution, aerosol preparations consistent with conventional pharmaceutical practices. Other suitable formulations are gels, elixirs, dispersible granules, syrups, suspensions, creams, lotions, solutions, emulsions, suspensions, dispersions, and the like. Suitable dosage forms for sustained release include tablets having layers of varying disintegration rates or controlled release polymeric matrices impregnated with the active components and shaped in tablet form or capsules containing such impregnated or encapsulated porous polymeric matrices. The pharmaceutical compositions may be comprised of 5 to 95% by weight of the compound.

As pharmaceutically acceptable carrier, excipient and/or diluents can be used lactose, starch, sucrose, cellulose, magnesium stearate, dicalcium phosphate, calcium sulfate, talc, mannitol, ethyl alcohol (liquid filled capsules).

Suitable binders include starch, gelatin, natural sugars, corn sweeteners, natural and synthetic gums such as acacia, sodium alginate, carboxymethyl-cellulose, polyethylene glycol and waxes. Among the lubricants that may be mentioned for use in these dosage forms, boric acid, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium chloride, and the like. Disintegrants include starch, methylcellulose, guar gum and the like. Sweetening and flavoring agents and preservatives may also be included where appropriate. Some of the terms noted above, namely disintegrants, diluents, lubricants, binders and the like, are discussed in more detail below.

Aerosol preparations suitable for inhalation may include solutions and solids in powder form, which may be in combination with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier such as inert compressed gas, e.g. nitrogen.

Additionally, the compositions of the present invention may be formulated in sustained release form to provide the rate controlled release of any one or more of the components or active ingredients to optimize the therapeutic effects. Suitable dosage forms for sustained release include layered tablets containing layers of varying disintegration rates or controlled release polymeric matrices impregnated with the active components and shaped in tablet form or capsules containing such impregnated or encapsulated porous polymeric matrices.

Liquid form preparations include solutions, suspensions and emulsions. As an example may be mentioned water or water-propylene glycol solutions for parenteral injections or addition of sweeteners and opacifiers for oral solutions, suspensions and emulsions. Liquid form preparations may also include solutions for intranasal administration.

For preparing suppositories, a low melting wax such as a mixture of fatty acid glycerides such as cocoa butter is first melted, and the active ingredient is dispersed homogeneously therein by stirring or similar mixing. The molten homogeneous mixture is then poured into convenient sized molds, allowed to cool and thereby solidify.

Also included are solid form preparations which are intended to be converted, shortly before use, to liquid form preparations for either oral or parenteral administration. Such liquid forms include solutions, suspensions and emulsions.

The compound of the present invention may also be deliverable transdermally. The transdermal compositions may take the form of creams, lotions, aerosols and/or emulsions and can be included in a transdermal patch of the matrix or reservoir type as are conventional in the art for this purpose.

The term capsule refers to a special container or enclosure made of methyl cellulose, polyvinyl alcohols, or denatured gelatins or starch for holding or containing compositions comprising the active ingredients. Hard shell capsules are typically made of blends of relatively high gel strength bone and pork skin gelatins. The capsule itself may contain small amounts of dyes, opaquing agents, plasticizers and preservatives.

Tablet means compressed or molded solid dosage form containing the active ingredients with suitable diluents. The tablet can be prepared by compression of mixtures or granulations obtained by wet granulation, dry granulation or by compaction well known to a person skilled in the art.

Oral gels refers to the active ingredients dispersed or solubilized in a hydrophilic semi-solid matrix.

Powders for constitution refers to powder blends containing the active ingredients and suitable diluents, which can be suspended in water or juices.

Suitable diluents are substances that usually make up the major portion of the composition or dosage form. Suitable diluents include sugars such as lactose, sucrose, mannitol and sorbitol, starches derived from wheat, corn rice and potato, and celluloses such as microcrystalline cellulose. The amount of diluents in the composition can range from about 5 to about 95% by weight of the total composition, preferably from about 25 to about 75%, more preferably from about 30 to about 60% by weight, and most preferably from about 40 to 50% by weight.

The term disintegrants refers to materials added to the composition to help it break apart (disintegrate) and release the medicaments. Suitable disintegrants include starches, “cold water soluble” modified starches such as sodium carboxymethyl starch, natural and synthetic gums such as locust bean, karaya, guar, tragacanth and agar, cellulose derivatives such as methylcellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose, microcrystalline celluloses and cross-linked microcrystalline celluloses such as sodium croscarmellose, alginates such as alginic acid and sodium alginate, clays such as bentonites, and effervescent mixtures. The amount of disintegrant in the composition can range from about 1 to about 40% by weight of the composition, preferably 2 to about 30% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 3 to 20% by weight of the composition, and most preferably from about 5 to about 10% by weight.

Binders characterize substances that bind or “glue” powders together and make them cohesive by forming granules, thus serving as the “adhesive” in the formulation. Binders add cohesive strength already available in the diluents or bulking agent. Suitable binders include sugars such as sucrose, starches derived from wheat, corn rice and potato; natural gums such as acacia, gelatin and tragacanth; derivatives of seaweed such as alginic acid, sodium alginate and ammonium calcium alginate; cellulosic materials such as methylcellulose and sodium carboxymethylcellulose and hydroxypropyl-methylcellulose; polyvinylpyrrolidone; and inorganics such as magnesium aluminum silicate. The amount of binder in the composition can range from about 1 to 30% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 2 to about 20% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 3 to about 10% by weight, even more preferably from about 3 to about 6% by weight.

Lubricant refers to a substance added to the dosage form to enable the tablet, granules, etc. after it has been compressed, to release from the mold or die by reducing friction or wear. Suitable lubricants include metallic stearates such as magnesium stearate, calcium stearate or potassium stearate; stearic acid; high melting point waxes; and water soluble lubricants such as sodium chloride, sodium benzoate, sodium acetate, sodium oleate, polyethylene glycols and d′I-leucine. Lubricants are usually added at the very last step before compression, since they must be present on the surfaces of the granules and in between them and the parts of the tablet press. The amount of lubricant in the composition can range from about 0.05 to about 15% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.2 to about 5% by weight of the composition, more preferably from about 0.3 to about 3%, and most preferably from about 0.3 to about 1.5% by weight of the composition.

Glidents are materials that prevent caking and improve the flow characteristics of granulations, so that flow is smooth and uniform. Suitable glidents include silicon dioxide and talc. The amount of glident in the composition can range from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of the composition, preferably 0.1% to about 7% by weight of the total composition, more preferably from about 0.2 to 5% by weight, and most preferably from about 0.5 to about 2% by weight.

Coloring agents are excipients that provide coloration to the composition or the dosage form. Such excipients can include food grade dyes and food grade dyes adsorbed onto a suitable adsorbent such as clay or aluminum oxide. The amount of the coloring agent can vary from about 0.01 to 10% by weight of the composition, preferably from about 0.05 to 6% by weight, more preferably from about 0.1 to about 4% by weight of the composition, and most preferably from about 0.1 to about 1%.

The term buffer, buffer system, buffer solution and buffered solution, when used with reference to hydrogen-ion concentration or pH, refers to the ability of a system, particularly an aqueous solution, to resist a change of pH on adding acid or alkali, or on dilution with a solvent. Preferred buffer systems can be selected from the group consisting of formate (pKa=3.75), lactate (pKa=3.86), benzoic acid (pKa=4.2) oxalate (pKa=4.29), fumarate (pKa=4.38), aniline (pKa=4.63), acetate buffer (pKa=4.76), citrate buffer (pKa2=4.76,pKa3=6.4), glutamate buffer (pKa=4.3), phosphate buffer (pKa=7.20), succinate (pKa1=4.93; pKa2=5.62), pyridine (pKa=5.23), phthalate (pKa=5.41); histidine (pKa=6.04), MES (2-(N-morpholino)ethanesulphonic acid; pKa=6.15); maleic acid (pKa=6.26); cacodylate (dimethylarsinate, pKa=6.27), carbonic acid (pKa=6.35), ADA (N-(2-acetamido)imino-diacetic acid (pKa=6.62); PIPES (4-piperazinebis-(ethanesulfonic acid; BIS-TRIS-propane (1,3-bis[tris(hydroxymethyl)methylamino]-propane), pKa=6.80), ethylendiamine (pKa=6.85), ACES 2-[(2-amino-2-oxoethyl)amino]ethanesulphonic acid; pKa=6.9), imidazole (pKa=6.95), MOPS (3-(N-morphin)-propansulfonic acid; pKa=7.20), diethylmalonic acid (pKa=7.2), TES (2-[tris (hydroxymethyl) methyl] amino ethanesulphonic acid; pKa=7.50) and HEPES (N-2-hydroxylethylpiperazin-N′-2-ethansulfonic acid; pKa=7.55) buffers or other buffers having a pKa between 3.8 to 7.7.

Preferred is the group of carboxylic acid buffers such as acetate and carboxylic diacid buffers such as fumarate, tartrate and phthalate and carboxylic triacid buffers such as citrate. Another group of preferred buffers is represented by inorganic buffers such as sulfate, borate, carbonate, oxalate, calcium hydroxyde and phosphate buffers. Another group of preferred buffers are nitrogen containing buffers such as imidazole, diethylenediamine, and piperazine.

Also preferred are sulfonic acid buffers such as TES, HEPES, ACES, PIPES, [(2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxymethyl)ethyl)amino]-1-propanesulfonic acid (TAPS), 4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-1-propanesulfonic acid (EPPS), 4-Morpholinepropanesulfonic acid (MOPS) and N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)-2-aminoethanesulfonic acid (BES).

Another group of preferred buffers are glycine buffers such as glycine, glycyl-glycine, glycyl-glycyl-glycine, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine and N-[2-hydroxy-1,1-bis(hydroxy-methyl)ethyl]glycine (Tricine).

Preferred are also amino acid buffers such as glycine, alanine, valine, leucine, isoleucine, serine, threonine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, tryptophane, lysine, arginine, histidine, aspartate, glutamate, asparagine, glutamine, cysteine, methionine, proline, 4-hydroxyproline, N,N,N-trimethyllysine, 3-methylhistidine, 5-hydroxylysine, O-phosphoserine, γ-carboxyglutamate, ε-N-acetyllysine, ω-N-methylarginine, citrulline, ornithine and derivatives thereof.

Also preferred are the following buffers:

effective pH range pKa 25° C. buffer 2.7-4.2 3.40 malate (pK1) 3.0-4.5 3.75 formate 3.0-6.2 4.76 citrate (pK2) 3.2-5.2 4.21 succinate (pK1) 3.6-5.6 4.76 acetate 3.8-5.6 4.87 propionate 4.0-6.0 5.13 malate (pK2) 4.9-5.9 5.23 pyridine 5.0-6.0 5.33 piperazine (pK1) 5.0-7.4 6.27 cacodylate 5.5-6.5 5.64 succinate (pK2) 5.5-6.7 6.10 MES 5.5-7.2 6.40 citrate (pK3) 5.5-7.2 6.24 maleate (pK2) 5.5-7.4 1.70, 6.04, 9.09 histidine 5.8-7.2 6.46 bis-tris 5.8-8.0 7.20 phosphate (pK2)  6.0-12.0 9.50 ethanolamine 6.0-7.2 6.59 ADA 6.0-8.0 6.35 carbonate (pK1) 6.1-7.5 6.78 ACES 6.1-7.5 6.76 PIPES 6.2-7.6 6.87 MOPSO 6.2-7.8 6.95 imidazole 6.3-9.5 6.80, 9.00 BIS-TRIS propane 6.4-7.8 7.09 BES 6.5-7.9 7.14 MOPS 6.8-8.2 7.48 HEPES 6.8-8.2 7.40 TES 6.9-8.3 7.60 MOBS 7.0-8.2 7.52 DIPSO 7.0-8.2 7.61 TAPSO 7.0-8.3 7.76 triethanolamine (TEA) 7.0-9.0 0.91, 2.10, 6.70, 9.32 pyrophosphate 7.1-8.5 7.85 HEPPSO 7.2-8.5 7.78 POPSO

Preferred are the buffers having an effective pH range of from 2.7 to 8.5, and more preferred of from 3.8 to 7.7. The effective pH range for each buffer can be defined as pKa −1 to pKa +1, where Ka is the ionization constant for the weak acid in the buffer and pKa=−log K.

Most preferred are buffers suitable for pharmaceutical use e.g. buffers suitable for administration to a patient such as acetate, carbonate, citrate, fumarate, glutamate, lactate, phosphate, phthalate, and succinate buffers. Particularly preferred examples of commonly used pharmaceutical buffers are acetate buffer, citrate buffer, glutamate buffer and phosphate buffer. Also most preferred is the group of carboxylic acid buffers. The term “carboxylic acid buffers” as used herein shall refer to carboxylic mono acid buffers and carboxylic diacid buffers as well as carboxylic triacid buffers. Of course also combinations of buffers, especially of the buffers mentioned herein are useful for the present invention.

Some suitable pharmaceutical buffers are a citrate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of from about 20 to 200 mM, more preferably at a final concentration of from about 30 to 120 mM) or an acetate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of about 20 to 200 mM) or a phosphate buffer (preferably at a final formulation concentration of about 20 to 200 mM).

Techniques for the formulation and administration of the compound of the present invention may be found in “Remington's Pharmaceutical Sciences” Mack Publishing Co., Easton Pa. A suitable composition comprising at least one compound mentioned herein may be a solution of the compound in a suitable liquid pharmaceutical carrier or any other formulation such as tablets, pills, film tablets, coated tablets, dragees, capsules, powders and deposits, gels, syrups, slurries, suspensions, emulsions, and the like.

For administration by inhalation the particle diameter of the lyophilised preparation is preferably between 2 to 5 μm, more preferably between 3 to 4 μm. The lyophilised preparation is particularly suitable for administration using an inhalator, for example the M-NEB® inhalator (NEBU-TEC,

Elsenfeld, Germany). The lyophilised product can be rehydrated in sterile distilled water or any other suitable liquid for inhalation adminstration.

Alternatively for intravenous administration the lyophilised product can be rehydrated in sterile distilled water or any other suitable liquid for intravenous administration.

After rehydration for administration in sterile distilled water or another suitable liquid the lyophilised preparation should have the approximate physiological osmolality of the target tissue for the rehydrated compound preparation i.e. blood for intravenous administration or lung tissue for inhalation administration. Thus it is preferred that the rehydrated formulation is substantially isotonic.

Method of Treatment

Another aspect of the present invention relates to a method of prophylaxis and/or treatment of respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, a neurodegenerative disease, comprising administering to a patient in need thereof a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound according to the present invention.

Accordingly, the terms “prophylaxis” or “treatment” includes the administration of the compound of the present invention to prevent, inhibit, or arrest the symptoms of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease. In some instances, treatment with the compound of the present invention will be done in combination with other protective compounds to prevent, inhibit, or arrest the symptoms of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

The term “active agent” or “therapeutic agent” as used herein, refers to an agent that can prevent, inhibit, or arrest the symptoms and/or progression of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

The term “therapeutic effect” as used herein, refers to the effective provision of protection effects to prevent, inhibit, or arrest the symptoms and/or progression of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

The term “a therapeutically effective amount” as used herein means a sufficient amount of the compound of the invention to produce a therapeutic effect, as defined above, in a subject or patient in need of treatment.

The terms “subject” or “patient” are used herein mean any mammal, including but not limited to human beings, including a human patient or subject to which the compositions of the invention can be administered. The term mammals include human patients and non-human primates, as well as experimental animals such as rabbits, rats, and mice, and other animals.

The compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate of the present invention can be used for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, a neurodegenerative disease, or in combination administration with another therapeutic compound. As used herein the term “combination administration” of a compound, therapeutic agent or known drug with a compound of the present invention means administration of the drug and the one or more compounds at such time that both the known drug and the compound will have a therapeutic effect. In some cases this therapeutic effect will be synergistic. Such concomitant administration can involve concurrent (i.e. at the same time), prior, or subsequent administration of the drug with respect to the administration of the compound of the present invention. A person of ordinary skill in the art would have no difficulty determining the appropriate timing, sequence and dosages of administration for particular drugs and compound of the present invention.

Definition of Compound Activity

A compound is deemed to have therapeutic activity if it demonstrated any one of the following activities listed in a) to g).

a) The compound could inhibit the activity of an overactive biological pathway.

b) The compound could inhibit the production of an overproduced biological molecule.

c) The compound could inhibit the activity of an overproduced biological molecule.

d) The compound could increase the activity of an underactive biological pathway.

e) The compound could increase the production of an under produced biological molecule.

f) The compound could mimic the activity of an under produced biological molecule.

g) The compound could prevent, inhibit, or arrest the symptoms and/or progression of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease.

As used herein “inhibition” is defined as a reduction of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule activity of between 10 to 100%. More preferably the reduction of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule activity is between 25 to 100%. Even more preferably the reduction of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule activity is between 50 to 100%.

As used herein “increase” is defined as an increase of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule of between 10 to 100%. More preferably the increase of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule activity is between 25 to 100%. Even more preferably the increase of the activity or production of a biological pathway or molecule activity is between 50 to 100%.

As used herein “mimic” is defined as an increase in the activity of a biological pathway dependent on the under produced biological molecule of between 10 to 100%. More preferably the increase of the activity of the biological pathway is between 25 to 100%. Even more preferably the increase of the activity the biological pathway is between 50 to 100%.

Compounds

The following compounds were for tested for the activity as a therapeutic agent for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a respiratory and vascular disease, a fibrotic disease, or a neurodegenerative disease:

[2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate, CAS 55981-09-4

and N,N-Dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide, CAS 657-24-9 (also known as Metformin).

Furthermore the present invention relates to the use of the compounds [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate and N,N-Dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide as pharmaceutically active agents in medicine, i.e. as medicaments.

As used herein, the term “compound(s)” or “compound(s) of the invention” shall also refer to salts, enantiomers, diastereomers, racemates, prodrugs and hydrates of the above-mentioned compound.

The term “prodrug” refers to any precursor compound, which is able to generate or to release the above-mentioned compound under physiological conditions.

EXAMPLES

The compound [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate was tested for activity using the assays described in Examples.

These assays are used to test the effect of a compound on the activity of the mTOR pathway. Phosphorylation of ribosomal protein rp60 is used as read-out for mTOR pathway activity. Deregulation/overactivation of the mTOR pathway has been shown to be the underlying mechanism of tuberous sclerosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis. Thus, these assays mimic a disease causative mechanism.

The tested compounds are commercially available.

Example 1 (FIG. 1)

MEFs are mouse embryo fibroblasts derived from TSC2 knockout (MEF110) and TSC2+ (MEF157) mice. Tsc2 mutations are known to cause tuberous sclerosis and lymphangioleiomyomatosis in humans.

All cells were maintained in DMEM tissue culture medium, with the addition of fetal calf serum to 10% to support cell proliferation, at 37° C. and 5% CO₂.

In MEFs, ribosomal protein S6, which is a component of the 40S ribosome, and phosphorylated at Ser236 by p70 S6 kinase can be assayed by ELISA and Western blotting, using phospho-specific antibodies which detect both the human and the mouse forms of rpS6. This assay is predicitve of compounds with protective or therapetic activities for respiratory and vascular diseases, fibrotic diseases, or neurodegenerative diseases.

Cells were grown to 60-80% confluence in DMEM+10% serum. Medium was replaced with fresh serum free medium two hours before addition of test compound of the invention.

Compound was added as a 1:1000 dilution of the stock solution in DMSO. DMSO was added as a vehicle control, and samples were incubated for a further 60 minutes.

For ELISA, cells were harvested into 200 ul cell lysis buffer containing both protease and phosphatase inhibitors, to protect the phosphorylation status of rpS6. Lysates were stored at −80° C. prior to use. 50 ul of lysate per sample was used for the ELISA, which was carried out according to manufacturers' instructions. For Western blotting, cells were harvested into 200 ul cell lysis buffer containing both protease and phosphatase inhibitors and resolved by SDS-PAGE before transfer to PVDF membrane and incubation with anti-phospho-rpS6 and anti-total-rpS6 antibodies.

The compound was well tolerated by the cells.

ELISA data are normalised to the vehicle control, data from separate experiments are shown as individual bars. Western blots are included to verify that loss of rpS6 phosphorylation is not a consequence of loss of rpS6 protein.

In 3 independent experiments, performed on disease relevant assay system of MEF cells, the compound of the invention showed dose-dependent inhibition of the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6.

Example 2 (FIG. 2)

621-101 cells are human cells derived from an angiomyolipoma. They have verified TSC2 mutations and are the only disease-derived mutation-bearing cells used that are mimicking the disease Lymphangioleiomyomitosis.

Cells were grown to 60-80% confluence in DMEM+10% serum. Medium was replaced with fresh serum free medium two hours before addition of test compound of the invention.

Compound was added as a 1:1000 dilution of the stock solution in DMSO. DMSO was added as a vehicle control, and samples were incubated for a further 60 minutes.

For ELISA, cells were harvested into 200 ul cell lysis buffer containing both protease and phosphatase inhibitors, to protect the phosphorylation status of rpS6. Lysates were stored at −80° C. prior to use. 50 ul of lysate per sample was used for the ELISA, which was carried out according to manufacturers' instructions. For Western blotting, cells were harvested into 200 ul cell lysis buffer containing both protease and phosphatase inhibitors and resolved by SDS-PAGE before transfer to PVDF membrane and incubation with anti-phospho-rpS6 and anti-total-rpS6 antibodies.

The compound was well tolerated by the cells.

In 3 independent experiments, performed on disease relevant assay system of 621-101 cells, the compound of the invention showed dose-dependent inhibition of the phosphorylation of the ribosomal protein S6 

1. (canceled)
 2. A method of treatment of lymphangioleiomyomatosis comprising administering to a subject in need thereof a therapeutically effective amount of a composition comprising [2-[(5-nitro-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)carbamoyl]phenyl]ethanoate.
 3. (canceled)
 4. (canceled)
 5. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition is formulated for intravenous administration or oral administration or inhalation.
 6. The method of claim 2, wherein the composition further comprises N,N-dimethylimidodicarbonimidic diamide.
 7. (canceled)
 8. (canceled)
 9. (canceled)
 10. The method of claim 6, wherein the composition is formulated for intravenous administration or oral administration or inhalation. 